The bath bribe

what just happened. My photo was the right way
to begin with, now it's on it's side. ugh. Blogger!
I decided after every night cuddling with Toby,
that it was REALLY time for a haircut. I do love
his hair long, he gets compliments on his white
hair everywhere we go, but it tickles me to no end,
and it always looks like this. CRAZY. so this AM,
at 7, I cut both the boys hair. Dusty was a piece of
cake like always, but Toby, oh, Toby...I found myself
chasing him down the driveway, into the grass, and
BRIBING him with a BATH. of all things. FUNNY,
right? It worked, it was still extremely hard, on him
and on my nerves...but we got the job DONE.


some of the white hair on the garage
floor. I am vowing today: I am NEVER
cutting my 2 year old's hair again,
without another adult present. This is
truly a miracle that it looks half way
decent.

It's short, and Nana, I'm sorry, but
now I can cuddle with him again.
You look cute, Tobes. and wasn't that
bath GREAT? Bubbles and Cars!

16 months ago...we went on a cruise...thanks to my parents!

I was looking at some pics yesterday, and found a few adorable pictures, that I never really noticed before. So, I wanted to post just a few.

Is this not the cutest picture of Grandparents

loving a grandchild. I'm printing this out in an

8x10 to hang above Toby's bed.

everynight Toby prays for his grandparents.
He says "Father, Day. Papa, Gama, food. AMEN."
I don't really think this needs any translation.

Even just his few words, totally work.

Papa with the 2 babies at the time, Toby and

Hailey (brother, Jason and Lizzie)...just days later

baby Eva was born. (my sister, Jennie and Dalan.)

I don't have any pictures, not one, of my sister,

Jaime and James, that's so weird. sorry, guys.

and my brother, Matt and Laura didn't go. they

had their first baby, Chase just 3 months before this trip.

Toby giving his dad kisses

Love it.

Here is another kissy picture.

Some fun photos of my 2 guys that were on

the trip. only the babies went, not the other

grandkids.

1 Y*u*m*m*y meal

I forgot the vegetables, again!
The Easiest Meatloaf ever, and everyone loved it!
and Sr. Cream and chive mashed potatoes.
(from the box) don't tell. I ran out of real potatoes.
But they were really good. This is going to be my
new go to meal. it took 5 min prep, 50 min in oven,
and the last 5 min, i boiled the water for potatoes.
and those take 5 min too. So easy. No thinking involved.
AND i didn't have to ANY worrying all day,
"What am I gonna make for dinner?" SOLVED.
so, THANKS Kraft for making this meal EASY-PEASY
for me. And most importantly, everyone loved it.
Just a short brag.

YEP! That's REAL dirt!

I turned my back for a second, and look
what happened!

Toby, so smart, filled up a sandpail
of dirt, put it in his shopping cart, and
wheeled it into the house...and then
dumped it right onto the geo-trax.
He was so excited! Then to help me clean
it up, he took handfulls of dirt back outside.
What a good kid, huh? He is soo sweet.
really. he is so sweet. to help me clean up
the mess that he just made...
I love you Tobes. you are smart as a whip!

Does Toby want to be ELMO for Halloween?

no WAY! look how unhappy he is.
I think he's gonna be DIEGO!

an Impromptu Picnic at the Park

we were dogsitting for my grandparents, and
Dusty thought it would be fun to take Jakey to
the park. I said "Yes" immediately, and Dusty
was so thrilled and shocked.

The girls, Brynne and her BFF Caitlin, bringing
the food and picnic blanket.

Dusty walking Jake.

Brynne posing while eating.
sorry, Tobes. there aren't any pics of you.
It was so hot. Wish Fall weather would
come visit Cali. Even if it's only for a
week. It'd be a nice break from all this
heat. Still a fun time even if it was only
for 1 hour.

My challenge for the next month...

to stop drinking SODA!

i'm am WAY addicted to Cherry Coke.

I drive through del Taco, just to buy a

Medium Cherry coke. EVERY DAY!

So, my challenge to myself is to go off of

soda for 1 month. And, then, if I make it

I can go back to one a week.

I think one a week is sufficient, especially

considering how bad it is for MY body.

I totally know better, and yet I still drink

the drink. Ugh. I make myself mad!

So check back, if you want, to see how I'm doing.

My friend, Julie, is supposed to be doing this

with me, but she totally FAILED. Buying

2 sodas yesterday.

I'm One day SODA FREE. On my second today.

Dusty was decorating for Halloween

Brynne was out with a friend, and Dusty and I
needed something to do. So, we started decorating
the front windows. We went a little crazy...
bats, jack o lanterns, and lollipop ghosts. He was
REALLY into it.
how I LOOOOOOVE being off track. So many fun
things to do, that you just don't make time for when
we're in school.
Thanks for the fun afternoon of table talk while we were
coloring, Dust.

Toby, can I see your eye?

First pic is totally shy and boy does
he look tired.

"Eye, Mom."

Third pic- it worked. I don't know how
but I just happened to snap the shot
right when he looked at me.
There you go grandma, see how good
it is looking?

OHHHHH! if you could smell my house right now!

You'd truly be in heaven. Apple Cinnamon Muffins.
Homemade.
I've never made this before, but now I totally
get why people buy the apple cinnamon glade scented
stuff. If you could replicate this smell everyday, why
wouldn't you?
wish you could have one, don't you?

me in my cute apron from a few christmases ago.
I think this is only the second time i've worn it.
cute, though, huh? thanks Jaime!

DIGGER DAN

The newest member of our family...
a Russian Tortoise.

Last night we pulled him out and let him crawl
on the floor while we cleaned his aquarium.
The boys got a huge kick out of that. Dusty was the
turtle-sitter.
He did a great job keeping track of Digger.

A quiet moment...much needed.

Toby has been so attached to his mom, that
during this moment I had to pause and take a pic
of this quiet moment. Really. The kid
won't even let Dad get him out of the car when
we get home.
He loves his dad, just really wants his mom
right now. Could it be all this eye surgery
stuff and me working so hard on the school carnival
for the last month?

Grandparent's day!

Early dinner and Red Robin. Yay! We got balloons!

The most important men in my life...together.
love you both!

Papa and his Dusty

Grandma and Brynne. so cute!
not really grandparents day, but they came to
hang out with us and we had fun with them.
love you both, so glad you make time for us.
My kids love the one on one they get with you!
You're awesome!

This is one Red Eye I can't edit!

Here is a pic of our Happy Toby,
just 4 days after surgery. It looks bad,
but it really could be worse. He doesn't
have a shiner like we thought he would,
and the dr. is very happy with the
progress. His eye is not open all the way
yet, especially when he is tired. The
redness will go away in a couple of weeks.
This isn't giving him any pain, thank
goodness!

Brynnes first Business Day

Brynne's bodacious beverage and bling
Boutique.
she sold some cute bracelets as a pair for
5$, and Cold water bottles with Kool Aid
singles. She sold out! Woo Hoo!
Good job Brynne.
It was a success!
I just noticed that Toby is screaming at
the bottom of this pic. How sad, huh?

First time up to bat for Honor Roll....AND....

She made it.
You can't have any N's on your report card, and
you need to have 3 B's and 5 A's.
Brynne has 2 B's, one is a B+, and 6 A's.
Way to go, Girl.

We are so proud of you.
love you tons.